St Brendans National School
Saint Mullins, Carlow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 30 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 22 girls, 8 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17481N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Brendan’s National School, Drummond is a co‑educational primary school under the patronage of the Catholic Church, Kildare and Leighlin diocese. Set in the picturesque countryside of Drummond, St Mullins, County Carlow, the school serves the local community and families from the surrounding area, including New Ross. The ethos is centred on a warm, happy, inclusive and caring environment where pupils are at the heart of everything. A strong emphasis is placed on creating a positive, energetic atmosphere that fosters opportunity, motivation and high standards of teaching and learning across the full curriculum. The school benefits from a range of modern facilities that support both academic and extracurricular activities. An outdoor classroom, installed in 2021 by parents, provides a natural learning space, while the multi‑purpose room (opened 2007) accommodates indoor sports, assemblies and creative arts. Over the years the premises have been upgraded with central heating, double‑glazed PVC windows, marmoleum flooring, a fully wired IT infrastructure, laptops, iPads and internet‑capable computers. Additional amenities include a refurbished roof, a concreteed playground, a ball court, and a dedicated garden and “Peace Oak” tree, all contributing to a well‑rounded, supportive learning environment.
History
Education in Drummond dates back to 1824 when teacher Patrick O’Keefe ran a small school in an old chapel, catering for 30 boys and 16 girls. The original pay‑school closed in 1946 when a new two‑room slated building was erected on land donated by Mrs Mary B. Griffin; pupils entered the new premises on 15 April 1946. Subsequent milestones include the installation of flushing toilets, an outdoor shelter and water tower in 1958, electric lighting in 1959 and central heating in 1969. The 1970s saw the appointment of a new principal and the formation of the first Board of Management (1975). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the school added modern amenities such as a telephone, computer, photocopier, burglar alarm and a History mural. The turn of the millennium brought a Millennium garden, double‑glazed windows and a fire‑safety system. In 2007 a purpose room was officially opened, and the yard was concreted in 2008. Recent developments include the acquisition of laptops and iPads (2013), marmoleum flooring (2014), the appointment of additional teaching staff, and the installation of an outdoor classroom by parents in 2021.
Applying to St Brendans National School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Brendans National School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about St Brendans National School
How many pupils attend St Brendans National School?
St Brendans National School has 30 pupils enrolled, 22 girls and 8 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Brendans National School a DEIS school?
No. St Brendans National School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of St Brendans National School?
St Brendans National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.